Slide lock table



Feb. 20, 1951 w. E. HALL, 2,54Z'Z70 SLIDE LOCK TABLE Feb. 20, 1951 w, E, HALL 2,542,770

SLIDE LOCK TABLE Filed June 5K 1948 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www@ Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED #STATES PATENT GFFECE SLIDE LocKjrABLE William E. Hall, Lawrence, Kans., assigner to E. Jack Knutson and-Eva Ruth Knutson, both of Crete, Ill., as joint tenants Application June 3, 1948, Serial No. 30,911

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to 4a. table and more par'- ticularly to a. slide lock table .having an improved method of holding the legs securely in place when the table is in an open position and .also to .hold the legs firmly in place when the table is in a collapsed or folded position. It is understood that the reference to a table in the present specification and claims is intended to in clude any article of manufacture having a top and supporting legs and adapted to be folded, such as a collapsible desk, bench, stand, etc., whether made of wood, `metal or other solid materials or mixtures thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, the supporting legs at `the ends of the table are attached to a side brace. At its free end the side brace contains'holding means which are adapted to engage a sliding bar. The holding means vpreferablycomprise a loop arrangementthroughwhich the sliding bar is inserted and thereby securely holds the supporting legs in place when in an open position. This construction prevents accidental .slipping or folding of the supporting legs. This additional support for the legs provides a strong construction and permits the table to support a great weight.

In its preferred construction the sides of the table each contain two slots, one above the other, and `arranged so that the sliding bar may pass through either the top or bottom sets of slots at one time. Thus, when the table is in an open position, the sliding bar is inserted from the outside through the top slot or hole at one side of the table, then through the loop arrangement and finally from the inside through the top hole at the other side of the table. It is readily apparent that this novel construction rmly holds the supporting legs in place.

To collapse or fold the table, the sliding bai` is withdrawn, the legs are folded down, and the sliding bar is inserted through the vbottom sets of holes. The sliding bar now rmly rests against the outside of the supporting legs. This provides a compact unit for carrying, storing or shipping, and guarantees that the legs of the table will not accidentally slip open. Thus, the sliding bar construction functions to rmly secure the legs in both the open and closed positions.

It will be noted that, in the improved construction of the present invention, opening or closing of the table is a simple and easy operation. No tools are required, there are no nuts and bolts, screws or the like to be tightened or loosened, and no complicated locking device, such as hooks and eyes, etc. are required. It is simply a matter of withdrawing and inserting the sliding bar. The sliding bar is preferably provided with a -handle to further facilitate handling. In addition, a small locking nut is preferably provided to hold the sliding bar in place and to permit carrying the table by the handle when desired.

The novelty and utility of the present invention is explained further in connection with the accompanying drawings. IFigure 1 is a top View of the table in an open position, with the underneath construction shown in dotted lines. Figure 2 is an end view and illustrates one specific type of supporting legs. Figure 3 is a section taken along lines 3 3 of Fig. 1. Figure 4 is a section taken along lines llof Figure 3. Figure 5 is a detail illustrating the locking nut at the handle end of the sliding bar. Figure 6 is a bottom view of the table in a collapsed position. Fig'- ure '7 is a section .taken along lines 'I-'I of Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, Ill designates a table having a top I I, supporting legs I2 and I3, and end strips I4 and I 5. In the case here illustrated, supporting legs i2 and I 3 are pivotally attached to top II by means of hinges I5 and I'I. Side Vbrace i9 is pivotally attached at one end to supporting legs I2 by means of hinge I8 and at the other end .contains a loop arrangement or stirrup 2l. `Similarly side braceV 23 is pivotally attached to supporting legs I3 by means of hinge 22 and contains loop arrangement or stirrup 25. Sliding bar 25 containing handle '3D is inserted through the upper slots in side pieces 23 and 29. With the table in the open position, as illustrated in Figure l, sliding bar 26 is inserted through stirrups 2l and 25 and thereby holds supporting legs I2 and I3 firmly in pla-ce.

Figure 2 of the drawings illustrates one specific type of supporting legs. As in Figure 1, IIJ designates the table having top I I, supporting legs I2, end strip Ill, side braces I9 and 23, side pieces 28 and 29. and sliding bar handle 3U. In the case here illustrated. each pair of supporting legs at one end of the table are connected bv means of cross bars. and the side brace is pivotally attached to the center cross bar. In this manner only two side braces are required for the ordinary size table. However, it is understood that separate side braces may be attached to each supporting leg, in which case the sliding bar will nass through four stirruns. In larger size tables, three or more sets of supporting legs may be required and two or more sliding bars may be used.

Figure 3 of the drawing is a section taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 1, and more clearly illustrates side piece 28 having sliding bar 26 inserted in the upper slot. Lower slot 21 is used when the table is in a collapsed position in the manner to be hereinafter described. Projections 20 and 24 similarly are used only when the table is in a collapsed position in order that the side braces rest firmly against the sliding bar in the manner to be hereinafter set forth. The other details illustrated in Figure 3 have been described in connection with Figures l and 2 and are designated by the same numerals.

Figure 4 further illustrates the novel construction of the present invention. As in the case of the Iprevious figures of the drawings, sliding bar 26 passes through the upper slot in side piece 29, through stirrups 25 and 2|, and into the upper slot in side piece 28. This gure illustrates locking nut 3| attached by means of screw 32 or the like to side piece 29 at a point between the upper and lower slots. This is more clearly illustrated in Figure 5. In the case here illustrated, sliding bar 26 is cut out in the center to provide surface 33 (also illustrated in Figure l) in order to provide more clearance for handle 30 and also a stop at one end for the locking nut. However, it is understood that this detail may be omitted, when desired, by providing a larger handle. Locking nut 3| pivots on screw 32 and serves to hold sliding bar 26 in place. This is particularly desirable when handle 30 is used as a grip to move or carry the table. It will be noted that locking nut 3| when pivoted in a closed position may also serve to hold the sliding bar in place when the latter is inserted in lower slot 21. This is accomplished by pivoting locking nut 3| in a downward position. f

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the table in a co1- lapsed position. It will be noted that sliding bar 26 rests firmly against projections 20 and 24 which in turn press against side braces I9 and 23. The side braces are attached by means of hinges I8 and 22 to supporting legs I2 and I3, and thereby prevent the legs from accidental opening. In the collapsed position, sliding bar 26 does not pass through stirrups 2| and 25. Referring to Figure '7, it will be noted that sliding bar 26 is now inserted in slot 2l. l

In the case here illustrated, the sliding bar and the slots are of tapered design and the slots are inversely positioned. It is understood that 4 the sliding bar and the slots may be of any other suitable design, such as circular, square, rectangular, etc.

The size of the table will depend on its use and m-ay range from 24 long and 12" wide, or smaller, as in the case of a childs toy bench or desk, to 10 long and 30 wide, or larger, as in the case of a work table or storage bench.

I claim as my invention:

l. A slide lock table comprising in combination a top, side pieces rmly attached to said top along the sides thereof, each of said side pieces having a top slot and a bottom slot, said bottom slot being immediately below said top slot, supporting legs pivotally attached to said top at the ends thereof, side braces pivotally attached at one end to a mid-portion of said supporting legs and containing a loop arrangement at the other end and a projection at a mid-portion thereof, and a sliding bar extending across the full width of said table and adapted to pass through said top slots in said side pieces and said loop arrangement to thereby rmly hold said supporting legs in an open position, the free ends of said side braces resting against the underside of said top, said sliding bar being further adapted to protrude through said bottom slots in said side pieces and to rest firmly against said projections and thereby hold said supporting legs tightly in position when said table is collapsed.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterised in that the supporting legs at one end are connected by a cross bar and the side brace is pivotally attached to said cross bar.

f y WILLIAM E. HALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 159,227l sindair Jan. 26,1875 1,860,875 Tyler et al. May 31, 1932 2,016,165' Zicherman Oct. 1, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,308 Great Britain 1915 

